Sylvaneers

Background Statement

Camp Santa Maria was founded in 1929 by Mary M Dower, the daughter of JK Mullen (namesake of Mullen HS) as a place to bring children from Denver that might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience the beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains despite living so near to them. In addition to children brought up to camp every week by train, Mrs Dower would hire laborers, struggling to find work during The Great Depression, and bring them up to the property to construct many of the fountains, stone walls, and stair cases that still exist today. Her legacy for caring children, her community, and the natural world are what Sylvaneers and the Camp Santa Maria staff use as a jumping off point for all of our programming. Mary Dower soon created a nonprofit foundation that still owns the property today and partners with other organizations to serve as the camp operator. Camp Santa Maria was operated by Catholic Charities until the mid-1990s, and by YMCA of Northern Colorado through 2024. Sylvaneers was excited to be selected as the camp operator for 2025 and hopes to bring Santa Maria successfully to its 100th anniversary and set the tone for the camp’s next 100 years!

Sylvaneers was formed in 2025 as a nonprofit youth development and outdoor education organization dedicated to providing high quality camp programming at Santa Maria, and proactively seeking out underserved populations that wouldn’t otherwise get to experience camp, whether due to financial reasons, or otherwise. Sylvaneers’ founder and Executive Director, Johnny Domenico, has worked in the camp industry for nearly 3 decades, primarily at Geneva Glen Camp in Indian Hills, CO and Sanborn Western Camps in Florissant, CO. These two camps offer robust, creative, inspiring, and fulfilling programs, and have fostered thriving, connected camp alumni communities and will be the model and inspiration for Sylvaneers future at Camp Santa Maria. As the summer camp program grows, Sylvaneers will seek to become known within Colorado communities as an organization dedicated to positive youth development both during the summer and the school year. Sylvaneers will seek out partnerships with communities that want their children to feel loved and taken care of, as well as given an opportunity to love and care for the beautiful nature of Colorado, all while learning how to safely take advantage of the amazing outdoor recreational activities that are possible in the mountains of Colorado.